So today I got Another write-up. This one is whatever is after the S-I-R? So if they call me out on it AGAIN within the next 3 months its automatic probation or termination.
This company has gone from treating its employees with respect and care- and like Family to treating us like **** in the past 5 years or so. Hours are cut every year, with promises of more "pre-made" stuff that we just have to put out. ...But then of course, that doesn't really happen, all those pre-made cakes are in the process of being pre-re-made because no one liked the designs...
And the biggest issue I'm having is with Store management. I tell them one of my employees is looking to leave in 2~ months time to have her baby- and they couldn't find Anyone for me? They didn't even tell me what date she set with them for her last day- so I had her scheduled- (and they Approved it!) so I am really ****ed this week, short 20% of my Forecasted hours! I begged to just plug inventory so I could focus on staying IN STOCK, but they wanted inventory done more. So I did it, and the next day they made me stay over 2.5 hours after my shift to get ready for one of their ****ing COMPANY VISITS.
So its this goddamn CAP binder and keeping it organized, and keeping on everyone in my department to scan their areas each day, MAKE NOTATIONS ON EVERY SINGLE ITEM, and put it in the binder. And I was completely honest with them- and they with me.
All the company wants is to see their stupid paperwork done, filled out each day, and filed away neatly. That, and oh, not actually following CAP for sales and promos- go BALLS TO THE WALLS on that ****!
But I don't have that kind of time. Not when I'm doing cake orders, helping customers, short 14+ hours for the day, breaking down three goddamn pallets, filling a last minute 4-day digital sale... And STILL my department looks like CRAP because for the WHOLE DAY there is literally just 1 baker, 1 mid person, and 1 closer- and we're doing the Best we can to stay FRESH, FRIENDLY, and IN STOCK.
I already have to spend my off time working for free. I have to come in to do orders on my off days or vacation time- I can never go out of town, no one knows how to order but me. I can't have a back up because the Deli has one, and for some reason bakery can't have one too.
I asked how many hours will we get to clean and keep the new Mochi case filled- they laughed. They want to see sales trending more than 10% ahead of last year, but they already got labor down 10% from last year (E-schedule keeps track of how many hours you had the same week last year) And then they want us to schedule between 3 and 5% less than forecast for the week because the total store sales are down... They Wonder why that is, and every time they have a huddle and talk about it- I pipe in that THERE ARE NO BASKETS IN THE FOYER, PEOPLE CAN'T FILL UP BASKETS WITH GROCERIES IF THERE ARE NO BASKETS FOR THEM. They don't care- Oh, they're down the street where the ghetto apartments are, Oh, they have some on order that will come in.... (they've been saying That for months!)
I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm contacting my district deli/bakery coordinator and telling her I want out of this store. I love my employees, I love my customers, but I cannot stand management.
They ****ing said I don't show a "sense of urgency" - and they were disappointed with Mother's Day. Well if they didn't waste our time having us make iced sugar cookies- we sold $130 worth- woohoo! ...Oh, but we scanned out over $400 of leftover mark down packs a few days later. :/ I TOLD THEM THEY WANTED TOO MANY ! And distribution ****ed up our long stem berry delivery! We got 5 flats the Sunday it started tracking, then Nothing until the Friday before mother's day. I was transfering SMALL UGLY BERRIES from produce at Full retail price and dipping those for a week, that's why sales were down, and even more- it was totally unprofitable because of that. And then you factor in all the hours they gave to people from the front end and deli to "Demo" them. STUPID !
I bust my ass EVERY DAY, I had NO problem at any of the other stores I worked at. Smaller volume stores, sure. Without a tortilla machine, and without a dessert island- we could get through a day with 3 people just Fine. Sure it was less hours, but there was a Lot less work, I had all the time in the world to plan, set ads, make displays, order decopac regularly, check my invoice every truck, inventory and order each day.
Some of the things management says is completely unforgivable. And now that I've got my third write up in a year, I'm done being nice. I don't want to work for free. That's slave labor, I'm not about that life. I'm not going to spend MY time at home planning, posting on Yodel, or any of that crap. No one should be!
So- the biggest issue I have with Upper management is their desire to see us doing ****ing paperwork all day long. I have SO MANY things I have to do in a day. I have to wrap par bake breads, slice the day old ones- that takes about an hour. Then I have to do all the markdowns- that takes an hour. I have to write out everyone's tasks for the day on the daily plan sheet, and closing list. I skip the 'First Touch' list every day because if I took my time to go out on the sales floor with a duster and wipes and cleaned every surface each morning... good lord, that would be at least another hour I don't have. So- already before I even go check my email for online orders or updates from coordinators, I'm down 2 hours, and Then the chimes begin. On the hour, Every hour, Me- and Everyone in my department has to spend 5~ minutes tidying the sales floor, front facing product, checking on self-serve supplies, etc... and at least once by noon hit the bread aisle and touch up Their stuff which takes maybe 10-15 minutes. So, roughly 2.5 hours or so of my day- already gone. Then I have to scan CAP. or if its AD day, I do that before it. So before CAP, I work the backstock racks... together that all takes about 30 minutes. They WANT more scanned, I could Spend another 30 minutes scanning MORE, but I don't have the Time to regularly Fill that stuff so its a Waste Of Time. Things like Candles, the Frozen cake doors- no, I don't stock those every day. They get filled As needed. So, okay, 3 hours gone of my day, then the whole email check, morning orders like icing/tortillas/jakes- that's easily another 30 minutes or more... then factor in a quick cigarette/coffe 10 minute break and 5 minute restroom- we're at 4 hours gone. Oh, then its time for the "Process Walk" with that daily checklist ****, and grading my department with management. Wasting Both our times. Its SUPPOSED to take 30 minutes of our time, but usually takes 2-5 minutes- because we know how stupid it is. So then for the next 4 hours I typically have to break down my frozen load of 2-3 pallets, put it all away, then stock all the tables, scan lows and holes, and as department head- any customer who has a difficult request or question- I get hailed for That.... Plus general customer service and taking orders (I swear to GOD, ELMS gives 0 hours for that.) Yah, by the end of my 8 hours I'm punching out, and coming back and working off the clock to get the last of it done. ...At That point I could go through and make notations on my CAP sheet and file it away, but I am loathe to do so. I'm just... so ****ing over it. All of that is a "GOOD" day- where no one calls in, where we are sufficiently staffed... This past week has been Hell being 20% under forecast.
And its like that Anytime someone leaves. Someone on vacation? We're short. Someone quits? We're short. Holiday? Well- I'm maxed out on hours on a normal week, so getting an extra 40 hours just means I'm short that extra 40 hours, and Somehow we have to pull through.
Goddamn managers, I tell them how bad things are because they want me to communicate what's going on so They are in the know- then they just give me the old "We don't want excuses, just get the work Done." ??? 62 hours, dude. SHORT 62 hours on an EXTREMELY TIGHT budget! That's like a full time employee not showing up All week. That's like my cake decorator only showing up Half the week! But I gotta go ahead and do inventory. And then get bitched at because we're not super pumped out and ready for Memorial Day. ??? Memorial day? You'll sell BEER, not a **** load of cupcakes and iced sugar cookies. That's going to get marked down, you're just increasing my shrink, but you're going to blame that on me not following CAP. I JUST WANT TO SCREAM !!!!
I suddenly understand why so many mass shooters are aggravated former employees.
yea 4 real u sit there and go on like this in the office when u got wrote up???? what a lil BITCH
Honestly op is just lazy and making excuses or trying to blame others for its poor work performance. Op needs to get a job delivering news papers or holding a little caesars hit and ready pizza sign. What a piss poor excuse for a baby lead
I will never understand why there are people that come in on their day off and vacation to order. Just don't maybe? What is the penalty for not coming in on your day off? Legit curious about this.
__________________
It's Self Punishment Time- oh wait I work U-Scan. I'm good.
So today I got Another write-up. This one is whatever is after the S-I-R? So if they call me out on it AGAIN within the next 3 months its automatic probation or termination.
This company has gone from treating its employees with respect and care- and like Family to treating us like **** in the past 5 years or so. Hours are cut every year, with promises of more "pre-made" stuff that we just have to put out. ...But then of course, that doesn't really happen, all those pre-made cakes are in the process of being pre-re-made because no one liked the designs...
And the biggest issue I'm having is with Store management. I tell them one of my employees is looking to leave in 2~ months time to have her baby- and they couldn't find Anyone for me? They didn't even tell me what date she set with them for her last day- so I had her scheduled- (and they Approved it!) so I am really ****ed this week, short 20% of my Forecasted hours! I begged to just plug inventory so I could focus on staying IN STOCK, but they wanted inventory done more. So I did it, and the next day they made me stay over 2.5 hours after my shift to get ready for one of their ****ing COMPANY VISITS.
So its this goddamn CAP binder and keeping it organized, and keeping on everyone in my department to scan their areas each day, MAKE NOTATIONS ON EVERY SINGLE ITEM, and put it in the binder. And I was completely honest with them- and they with me.
All the company wants is to see their stupid paperwork done, filled out each day, and filed away neatly. That, and oh, not actually following CAP for sales and promos- go BALLS TO THE WALLS on that ****!
But I don't have that kind of time. Not when I'm doing cake orders, helping customers, short 14+ hours for the day, breaking down three goddamn pallets, filling a last minute 4-day digital sale... And STILL my department looks like CRAP because for the WHOLE DAY there is literally just 1 baker, 1 mid person, and 1 closer- and we're doing the Best we can to stay FRESH, FRIENDLY, and IN STOCK.
I already have to spend my off time working for free. I have to come in to do orders on my off days or vacation time- I can never go out of town, no one knows how to order but me. I can't have a back up because the Deli has one, and for some reason bakery can't have one too.
I asked how many hours will we get to clean and keep the new Mochi case filled- they laughed. They want to see sales trending more than 10% ahead of last year, but they already got labor down 10% from last year (E-schedule keeps track of how many hours you had the same week last year) And then they want us to schedule between 3 and 5% less than forecast for the week because the total store sales are down... They Wonder why that is, and every time they have a huddle and talk about it- I pipe in that THERE ARE NO BASKETS IN THE FOYER, PEOPLE CAN'T FILL UP BASKETS WITH GROCERIES IF THERE ARE NO BASKETS FOR THEM. They don't care- Oh, they're down the street where the ghetto apartments are, Oh, they have some on order that will come in.... (they've been saying That for months!)
I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm contacting my district deli/bakery coordinator and telling her I want out of this store. I love my employees, I love my customers, but I cannot stand management.
They ****ing said I don't show a "sense of urgency" - and they were disappointed with Mother's Day. Well if they didn't waste our time having us make iced sugar cookies- we sold $130 worth- woohoo! ...Oh, but we scanned out over $400 of leftover mark down packs a few days later. :/ I TOLD THEM THEY WANTED TOO MANY ! And distribution ****ed up our long stem berry delivery! We got 5 flats the Sunday it started tracking, then Nothing until the Friday before mother's day. I was transfering SMALL UGLY BERRIES from produce at Full retail price and dipping those for a week, that's why sales were down, and even more- it was totally unprofitable because of that. And then you factor in all the hours they gave to people from the front end and deli to "Demo" them. STUPID !
I bust my ass EVERY DAY, I had NO problem at any of the other stores I worked at. Smaller volume stores, sure. Without a tortilla machine, and without a dessert island- we could get through a day with 3 people just Fine. Sure it was less hours, but there was a Lot less work, I had all the time in the world to plan, set ads, make displays, order decopac regularly, check my invoice every truck, inventory and order each day.
Some of the things management says is completely unforgivable. And now that I've got my third write up in a year, I'm done being nice. I don't want to work for free. That's slave labor, I'm not about that life. I'm not going to spend MY time at home planning, posting on Yodel, or any of that crap. No one should be!
So- the biggest issue I have with Upper management is their desire to see us doing ****ing paperwork all day long. I have SO MANY things I have to do in a day. I have to wrap par bake breads, slice the day old ones- that takes about an hour. Then I have to do all the markdowns- that takes an hour. I have to write out everyone's tasks for the day on the daily plan sheet, and closing list. I skip the 'First Touch' list every day because if I took my time to go out on the sales floor with a duster and wipes and cleaned every surface each morning... good lord, that would be at least another hour I don't have. So- already before I even go check my email for online orders or updates from coordinators, I'm down 2 hours, and Then the chimes begin. On the hour, Every hour, Me- and Everyone in my department has to spend 5~ minutes tidying the sales floor, front facing product, checking on self-serve supplies, etc... and at least once by noon hit the bread aisle and touch up Their stuff which takes maybe 10-15 minutes. So, roughly 2.5 hours or so of my day- already gone. Then I have to scan CAP. or if its AD day, I do that before it. So before CAP, I work the backstock racks... together that all takes about 30 minutes. They WANT more scanned, I could Spend another 30 minutes scanning MORE, but I don't have the Time to regularly Fill that stuff so its a Waste Of Time. Things like Candles, the Frozen cake doors- no, I don't stock those every day. They get filled As needed. So, okay, 3 hours gone of my day, then the whole email check, morning orders like icing/tortillas/jakes- that's easily another 30 minutes or more... then factor in a quick cigarette/coffe 10 minute break and 5 minute restroom- we're at 4 hours gone. Oh, then its time for the "Process Walk" with that daily checklist ****, and grading my department with management. Wasting Both our times. Its SUPPOSED to take 30 minutes of our time, but usually takes 2-5 minutes- because we know how stupid it is. So then for the next 4 hours I typically have to break down my frozen load of 2-3 pallets, put it all away, then stock all the tables, scan lows and holes, and as department head- any customer who has a difficult request or question- I get hailed for That.... Plus general customer service and taking orders (I swear to GOD, ELMS gives 0 hours for that.) Yah, by the end of my 8 hours I'm punching out, and coming back and working off the clock to get the last of it done. ...At That point I could go through and make notations on my CAP sheet and file it away, but I am loathe to do so. I'm just... so ****ing over it. All of that is a "GOOD" day- where no one calls in, where we are sufficiently staffed... This past week has been Hell being 20% under forecast.
And its like that Anytime someone leaves. Someone on vacation? We're short. Someone quits? We're short. Holiday? Well- I'm maxed out on hours on a normal week, so getting an extra 40 hours just means I'm short that extra 40 hours, and Somehow we have to pull through.
Goddamn managers, I tell them how bad things are because they want me to communicate what's going on so They are in the know- then they just give me the old "We don't want excuses, just get the work Done." ??? 62 hours, dude. SHORT 62 hours on an EXTREMELY TIGHT budget! That's like a full time employee not showing up All week. That's like my cake decorator only showing up Half the week! But I gotta go ahead and do inventory. And then get bitched at because we're not super pumped out and ready for Memorial Day. ??? Memorial day? You'll sell BEER, not a **** load of cupcakes and iced sugar cookies. That's going to get marked down, you're just increasing my shrink, but you're going to blame that on me not following CAP. I JUST WANT TO SCREAM !!!!
I suddenly understand why so many mass shooters are aggravated former employees.
Thanks for explaining what you have to go through. I feel for you. I really sympathize and I'm glad you took the time to explain the problems you have to deal with. ( I too HATE all that stupid, time-wasting, meaningless paperwork, although I work in a different dept.)
I know it won't happen, but it would sure be NICE if our CEO Rodney McMullen and every single president and vice president and coordinator from ALL divisions of Kroger could read this and think about it, long and hard.
I'd fire you just for writing this f u c k i n g BOOK
I know you are a troll, but, please, give the OP a bit of slack. Kroger is slowly driving our dept leads crazy with all their Totally Impossible demands. Oh, BTW, I'm so sorry you have trouble reading a few paragraphs of well-written text. Perhaps you could take a night class to improve your reading skills.
I feel your pain. I work in bakery too and it's pretty much the same here. Is there someone else in your department that can get the frozen order? Maybe somebody who isn't a decorator can get it. As far as CAP goes, I've hated it from day one. They want you to follow CAP to the letter, but if you do, you're either out of stock or overstocked. Of course it's never CAP's fault. Also, if they want you to make notations next to every item, isn't that basically saying CAP doesn't work and you have to make your own decisions anyway? Some woman from corporate had the nerve to tell me that CAP is a tool. I picked up the CAP sheet and said, "A tool is something useful. This is not useful."
Here's an example of management meddling. Yesterday we had three people working at the time. One was doing cake orders. One was doing bread. The other was in the back breaking down the frozen order. Co-manager came up and wanted us to sample strawberry crunch cakes. First of all, there's nobody who can stop what they're doing and make them. Second, there's no reason to sample an item that's already a big seller. You sample things that are new, not something that's been around for years and years.
I feel your pain. I work in bakery too and it's pretty much the same here. Is there someone else in your department that can get the frozen order? Maybe somebody who isn't a decorator can get it. As far as CAP goes, I've hated it from day one. They want you to follow CAP to the letter, but if you do, you're either out of stock or overstocked. Of course it's never CAP's fault. Also, if they want you to make notations next to every item, isn't that basically saying CAP doesn't work and you have to make your own decisions anyway? Some woman from corporate had the nerve to tell me that CAP is a tool. I picked up the CAP sheet and said, "A tool is something useful. This is not useful."
Here's an example of management meddling. Yesterday we had three people working at the time. One was doing cake orders. One was doing bread. The other was in the back breaking down the frozen order. Co-manager came up and wanted us to sample strawberry crunch cakes. First of all, there's nobody who can stop what they're doing and make them. Second, there's no reason to sample an item that's already a big seller. You sample things that are new, not something that's been around for years and years.
GOOD ONE!! LOVE IT!! Thanks for telling her that!!!
Holy crap... I read your whole post, and you know what... it's the story of my life.
I've had management on my ass for the same exact things as you. I barely have time to do the "First touch" every day, and I didn't get "certified" from my coordinator for CXF because I didn't do a good first touch. The next day, I was asked by my store manager if I would want to step down if they asked me. My response was Hell no, you'd have to DRAG me out of here after everything this company has put me through the last two years. Are you freaking kidding me?
According to Eschedule, we're overscheduling in the bakery now! But we still don't have enough time to get everything done. It was NEVER like this before, it's gotten so much worse. This weekend we had about 50-60 cake orders! We used so much overtime and i'm sure i'm going to get ripped apart by my store manager. But what can we do? My coordinator sent out an email saying we were not allowed to refuse orders whatsoever!
Oh, despite all the nitpicking, my department has been 5-10% ahead of last year in sales. but you know, of course my store manager never has anything good to say to me.
I will never understand why there are people that come in on their day off and vacation to order. Just don't maybe? What is the penalty for not coming in on your day off? Legit curious about this.
A girl in the deli did that and the union steward, who is also the deli manager, made her go home.
I'm just gonna assume there are some corporate ****s getting riffed about how bad they are running this company into the ground... *sneers* MAYBE WE NEED A NEW PROGRAM.... I KNOW, LET'S SEND THEM **** TONS OF CRAP THAT WILL NOT SELL THEN ACCUSE THEM OF OVER ORDERING, MAYBE COUNTING THEIR BACKSTOCK CASES EVERY DAY WILL HELP.
But for my fellow bakery people and other decent human beings, thanks for the replies.
My biggest peev is when the boss comes by asking for something. "Well, you Know they want iced sugar cookies on the front table... So, when will you have those ready?" "Tomorrow." "No, it has to be now." "No, it can't be now, I'm leaving in 30 minutes, I'll ask my closer to bake some extra cookies and ice them to dry over night." "Well, I was thinking we need at least two racks. You can't have that ready in 30 minutes?"
......... ......... Clueless. These people are Clueless. And there is no way my store sells 30-40 packs of sugar cookies. Not for Any holiday. Not even Christmas week.
I've decided to start a new program. All "special order" cakes are going to get a Creative PLU Mark-up price. I'm tired of customers listing off what they want... making a Complicated order, making us hand mix custom colors, and then expecting it to be the same price as the cakes in the cake case that we literally pull out pre-iced from a box and slop on leftover cupcake icing bags as sloppy borders and call it a day. You wanted the complicated cake, you're gonna pay for it.
I'd fire you just for writing this f u c k i n g BOOK
I know you are a troll, but, please, give the OP a bit of slack. Kroger is slowly driving our dept leads crazy with all their Totally Impossible demands. Oh, BTW, I'm so sorry you have trouble reading a few paragraphs of well-written text. Perhaps you could take a night class to improve your reading skills.
Perhaps you can stop getting butt fu cked by your managers and get a better job. Wont hold my breath though
Holy crap... I read your whole post, and you know what... it's the story of my life.
I've had management on my ass for the same exact things as you. I barely have time to do the "First touch" every day, and I didn't get "certified" from my coordinator for CXF because I didn't do a good first touch. The next day, I was asked by my store manager if I would want to step down if they asked me. My response was Hell no, you'd have to DRAG me out of here after everything this company has put me through the last two years. Are you freaking kidding me?
According to Eschedule, we're overscheduling in the bakery now! But we still don't have enough time to get everything done. It was NEVER like this before, it's gotten so much worse. This weekend we had about 50-60 cake orders! We used so much overtime and i'm sure i'm going to get ripped apart by my store manager. But what can we do? My coordinator sent out an email saying we were not allowed to refuse orders whatsoever!
Oh, despite all the nitpicking, my department has been 5-10% ahead of last year in sales. but you know, of course my store manager never has anything good to say to me.
Holy crap... I read your whole post, and you know what... it's the story of my life.
I've had management on my ass for the same exact things as you. I barely have time to do the "First touch" every day, and I didn't get "certified" from my coordinator for CXF because I didn't do a good first touch. The next day, I was asked by my store manager if I would want to step down if they asked me. My response was Hell no, you'd have to DRAG me out of here after everything this company has put me through the last two years. Are you freaking kidding me?
According to Eschedule, we're overscheduling in the bakery now! But we still don't have enough time to get everything done. It was NEVER like this before, it's gotten so much worse. This weekend we had about 50-60 cake orders! We used so much overtime and i'm sure i'm going to get ripped apart by my store manager. But what can we do? My coordinator sent out an email saying we were not allowed to refuse orders whatsoever!
Oh, despite all the nitpicking, my department has been 5-10% ahead of last year in sales. but you know, of course my store manager never has anything good to say to me.
Yall are too slow and old. Yall should be fired
Get back in the basement Cletus, your sister is waiting.
